Donations can be made to the school district, as well as the Camino Federal Credit Union’s main branch, located at 520 N. Taylor Ave. in Montebello, right up until Oct. 28 when the drive ends.

“As a result of State budget cuts and rising unemployment rates, there is a growing need for food assistance in the communities we serve,” MUSD Board President Ed Chau said at the kick-off.

School boardmembers including Marcella Calderon, at podium, and Gerri Guzman kicked off the War on Hunger food drive campaign.

In Los Angeles County alone, 400,000 children go hungry. Last year the district identified 350 students as homeless, and eighty percent of students in the district are categorized as low-income and qualify for free and reduced lunches.

Boardmember Gerri Guzman, who spearheaded the project, said the effort will help students in the district whose families “simply cannot provide for them,” and says the food drive shows not only “how close-knit our district is, but also how effective we are when we work together toward a common goal.”

In past years the “War on Hunger” food drive drew more than 30,000 pounds in donations of non-perishable foods. This is the district’s third annual drive.